If there’s a magic method to returning after ACL surgeries, Purdue wants to know. On the first day of training camp, the 6-1, 182-pound Posey ran routes, made cuts and showed no signs of a February surgery.

“I didn’t think I would come back this fast,” he said. “Just doing what the doctors are telling me to do.”

When the Boilermakers hold two-a-day practices, Posey is held out of one workout to allow his knee time to recover. Soreness surfaces, but it could be a lot worse. It’s nothing a bag of ice won’t fix.

He called the first day of practice “nerve-wracking. It’s been a while since I ran around full speed with people in front of me. After the first couple of days, you settle in and get used to it and feel comfortable.”

The native of Boca Raton, Fla., suffered the injury Jan. 31 during a one-on-one drill inside the Mollenkopf Athletic Center. He ran a quick route and the defender bumped his knee.

“I was going to plant and buckled it the wrong way. It just happened,” Posey said.

He underwent surgery Feb. 10 and within two months was jogging, building back his strength and increasing the knee’s stability. He feared he wouldn’t return until midseason or maybe later because of the initial seven- to nine-month timetable.

Posey missed spring practice, but had a good feeling about training camp.

“I knew at that time there was a pretty good chance I would be back for fall camp,” he said.

The Boilermakers are counting on Posey this season.

On Thursday, coach Darrell Hazell mentioned Posey among Purdue’s top five receivers through the first 11 days of camp. DeAngelo Yancey, Danny Anthrop, B.J. Knauf and freshman Gregory Phillips were the others. Hazell is also looking for another receiver to emerge, possibly during Saturday’s scrimmage.

But Posey has done enough in the first part of camp to earn a spot, although there’s a long way before the Aug. 30 opener.

“Cam’s done a great job getting himself back to healthy at this point,” receivers coach Kevin Sherman said. “He’s done a great job with the trainers doing what he’s supposed to do and not doing too much. We’re doing a good job managing his reps. He understands that he has to push himself to a level to see where he can get to and see if he can get to a point where he can go out there pain free and play full speed at a high level.”

SATURDAY’S SCRIMMAGE

At Ross-Ade Stadium

Time: 11:15 a.m.

Note: Following the scrimmage, Purdue will host Kids Day. Players and coaches will be available for autographs and pictures.